Speed Post News Network
Bagaha : Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on January 8 rounded off two-day visit to Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), which boasts of 28 Royal Bengal Tigers, after visiting Kauleshwar dham and historic Jata Shankar temple through hanging bridge in VTR area in West Champaran district.
One of the highlights of the CM’s visit was that he got water resources minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh flown to VTR by a chopper to see the erosion caused by river Gandak in the forest area. Singh assured the VTR officials before the CM that work to stop erosion will start soon along left Gandak embankment from Belawaghat to Kauleshwar dham temple.
Although motorboat was not available, the CM enjoyed boat journey in river Gandak river near Gandak barrage. He was accompanied by Chief secretary Anjani kumar Singh, principal secretary, Enviroment and forest department, Vivek Kumar Singh, DM, West Champaran, Dhirendra Kumar alias Rinku Singh, MLA from Valmikinagar, during boat journey. The CM also saw the part of Gandak left bank getting eroded from Gandak Guest House to Kauleshwar dham temple in VTR.
Earlier, hundred of women with their children led by Sunaina Devi and Yashoda Devi blocked the carcade of the CM near Gandak Guest House, Valmikinagar. The CM walked up to them and received their memorandum which mentioned that they were residing in Gandak colony area but lack drinking water facility and toilets. The CM instructed DM Lokesh Kumar Singh to look into their grievances.The CM spent January 7 night in a bamboo hut in the VTR.
The employees of East canal hydro power house Kotaraha and Tirbeni canal hydro power stations led Direndra Patel he met the CM and informed him that the power houses were closed for more than five months due to indifferent attitude of the officials and demanded their restoration. Nitish appreciated the efforts of VTR for increasing the number of tigers. The CM also saw the grassland created by VTR near Bherihari under Valmikinagar forest range.